Strong network deception

By Kipruto Lang’at

They arrived in a Toyota Land Cruiser in an early sunny morning.

The residents of Olposimoru area near Molo got more worried since the issue of Mau Forest rehabilitation was disturbing them. Nonetheless, the men and a woman disembarked from their vehicle with several tape measures and the usual surveyors’ equipment. Rumours were running high that part of that village would be excised as part of the forest to be conserved by the Government.

They believed then that the surveyors had been sent by the Government to draw the boundary.

The personnel sporting jeans moved around the village with their equipment.

"Do you have sufficient network signals in your mobile phones in this area?" one of them asked a man who was grazing his cattle. When the man answered in the negative, they requested him to show him his land. They explained that they had been sent by a mobile phone firm to acquire a piece of land for erection of a transmission mast.

After formal introductions and pleasantries, Ole Kipei took them to his farm and one of them produced a map showing the plot number and exact location of the land. The registration details were just what he had on his title deed.

"We need to install a network booster in an area near your farm. If you talk well, we might consider you since the annual rent from us will be in millions," the team leader said.

Grand opportunity

"Another officer at the records office told us to search for this village and luckily you are the first person we’ve met," he added.

When mzee Ole Kipei realised that his land was not going to be sold but rather leased, he lazily gazed at his cows as if they were lifeless, perhaps ‘digesting’ the Sh1.2 million he was told would be the annual rent for a 20 by 10 metre piece of land.

However, a "Lease Agreement and change of user" documents had to be filled for the agreement to be finalised and the construction to begin.

He was told that the process, which takes three days at most, would cost slightly less than Sh40,000.

"Since we have contacts at the records office, we will do it in a day or two for the same sum. For the favour we have extended by choosing your land, you will give us Sh10,000 just for appreciation," another officer added.

"After all your land may be set aside for the forest and it will be profitable if you have the structure on it," he advised the old man as they continued observing and taking readings on what they called a GPS machine.

Sensing that a window of opportunity had knocked on his door at the right time, he called his son who works at a bank to seek advice.

His first-born son, who was the only learned son, gave him the green light. He promised to take an advance salary of Sh20,000 and send the money via mobile cash transfer service. The old man decided to sell two cows to get Sh30,000.

On the third day, the old man undertook the negotiations in the heavily tinted vehicle. He could see himself driving a similar car. He signed several papers and was left with a map showing his farm and where the ‘magic structure’ would be situated. As he gave out the cash, he was given several contacts to use in case he needed more information from the Ministry of Lands, any Government office or the service provider.

"We will be here in two or three days with a cleared cheque and other logistics that may arise," the leader said as the cars zoomed off blowing dust in Ole Kipei’s face.

Crowd of victims

Well, the third day passed just like the first two. When he called the telephone numbers, the reply was that the numbers were no longer in service. The old man made a quick trip to the chief’s office to enquire when his cheque would arrive. He found other people sitting but looking desperate.

After explaining what had transpired with the surveyors and the impending huge payout, the chief had rather unkind words for him as he held that day’s newspaper.

"Whom were newspapers made for? The Government has used a lot of money to tell you to avoid conmen yet you ignore. Just like all these people, you were conned in a very easy way. Go and look for money to buy whatever you sold," the chief told them as he left to meet his boss.

That is the time he realised the others had fallen on the same trap.

Ole Kipei, like his colleagues, sat there angry as the reality of being conned hit him.